Student activists end Vučić’s 12‑year rule in Serbia’s election

The Guardian reported that a student‑led movement defeated Serbia’s authoritarian leader Aleksandar Vučić at the ballot box after two years of protests. On Sunday, record numbers of voters went to the polls and voted to end Vučić’s 12‑year rule. The Guardian added that the list of candidates backing the change was put forward by student activists, with half of the nominees holding PhDs. Helen Pidd spoke to Serbian‑American journalist Ana Milosavljevic, student activist Tara Blagojević and MP‑to‑be Milica Jovanović about how the so‑called Student List managed to overcome Vučić’s increasingly authoritarian regime. The interview explored whether a leaderless movement can govern a country after its electoral victory.

Why it matters

The election shows that a grassroots, student‑driven coalition can unseat a long‑standing authoritarian leader, raising questions about the future of governance in Serbia.

Key details

Location

Serbia · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

29 Oct 2026, 08:30 IST

Key names

Aleksander Vučić, Aleksandar Vučić, PhDs, Balkan

Section

World

Figure cited

On Sunday, record numbers of people went to the polls and voted to end the 12-year rule of Aleksandar Vučić. (The Guardian)

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianHow students toppled Serbia’s strongman – podcast 29 Oct, 08:30

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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